From April 19 to 26, Wen Yonghong, Vice Chancellor of China University of Petroleum, Beijing (CUP) , led a delegation to visit Russia and Kazakhstan. The delegation included staff from the Office of External Cooperation, the International Office, and the College of International Education.

In Russia, the delegation visited Gazprom Neft and attended the 2026 Gazprom Neft Corporate University Alliance Forum. At the forum, Wen Yonghong delivered a keynote speech titled Industry-Education Integration in Energy-Featured Universities: Practices and Innovations. He systematically elaborated on the university’s new five-in-one talent training model based on industry-education integration, shared the university’s achievements in cultivating energy professionals and conducting international industry-university cooperation, and outlined the vision of building an Energy Community with a Shared Future together with global universities and enterprises. Irina Gimaeva, Head of Corporate Education Programs and University Cooperation of the Gazprom Neft Corporate University Alliance, received the delegation. The two sides held in-depth discussions on scientific research cooperation, talent cultivation and personnel training. Presidents from Russian universities, including Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, Tomsk University and Novosibirsk State University also took part in the reception.

As the leading member institution of the University Working Group (Youth) under the Belt and Road Energy Partnership Cooperation Network, CUP also invited representatives from fellow group members including Tianjin University and Shandong University of Science and Technology to attend the forum. Each institution presented its achievements and experience in internationalization, talent cultivation and related scientific research.

In Kazakhstan, Wen Yonghong and his delegation visited the Kazakh-British Technical University, China-Kazakhstan Gas Pipeline Company Limited, PetroChina Aktobe Company (Kazakhstan), PetroChina Central Asia & Russia Company, and Sinopec Kazakhstan Company.

Assel Knesovna Yumasetova, Vice-Rector for Research of the Kazakh-British Technical University, introduced the university's international development strategy. As a member of the World Energy University Network, Kazakh-British Technical University maintains close ties with CUP. The two universities have carried out in-depth collaboration and achieved fruitful results in scientific research, talent cultivation and cultural exchanges. The two sides focused their discussions on the dual-degree undergraduate program.

Wu Xiaocai, Deputy General Manager of China-Kazakhstan Gas Pipeline Company Limited, briefed the delegation on the production and operation of the China-Kazakhstan gas pipelines and expressed gratitude for CUP’s long-term support in talent training and technical training. Wen Yonghong noted that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation for university-enterprise cooperation. He expressed the hope that both parties would further expand cooperation areas, innovate cooperation models, and provide solid talent and technological support for the energy strategic cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.

Ru Shitao, General Manager of PetroChina Aktobe Company and an alumnus of the 2007 Accounting Program of CUP, received the delegation. He thanked his alma mater for its education and enduring support, and introduced the company's development history as well as the cooperation in recruiting and training international students from Kazakhstan and delivering international training programs. Wen Yonghong pointed out that the joint training program for Kazakh students launched by Aktobe Company and CUP in 1997 was the university's first university-enterprise joint international student training initiative. The program has nurtured numerous outstanding Kazakh talents proficient in both foreign languages and professional expertise, making important contributions to China-Kazakhstan energy cooperation. He hoped the two sides would consolidate the existing cooperation foundation, summarize practical experience, expand the scope of collaboration, and strengthen cooperation in key scientific research projects and student internships and practical training.

Li Shufeng, General Manager of PetroChina Central Asia & Russia Company, and Zhao Quanmin, General Manager of Sinopec Kazakhstan Company and an alumnus of the 2009 Safety Technology and Engineering Program of CUP, received the delegation separately. The two sides exchanged views and reached consensus on international student cultivation, international training, student exchanges and internships.

The delegation also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Kazakhstan Alumni Association and visited Chinese and international alumni working and living in Almaty, Aktobe and Astana of Kazakhstan.